Improvement in car-couplings



`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WAY AND ALVAN S. HOFFMAN, OF NAPANOOK, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 156,5 14, dated November 3, 1874; application led June 27, 1874.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN WAY and ALvAN S. HOFFMAN, of Napanock, in the county of Ulster and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement Vin Oar-Goup- Vlings, of which the following is a specificasponding parts.

A represents the draw-head.l B is the mouth of the draw-head. O is the draw-head chamber. D is the spring-bumper. E is the coupling-rod. Instead of alink I use a rod having a head, F, at each end, which, when the cars are coupled, engage with the shoulderst of the draw-heads, as seen in Fig. 2. J is an arm attached to middle of this rod, which arm stands parallel with face of the heads F, as seen in Fig. l. K is a ball or Weight on the end of the arm J. When the ball is in the position seen in Fig. 1,(with the arm J horizontal,) the ball is supported by a spring, O, on the hanger L, being raised to that position by means of the chain m and lever N.

As the Weight K is lifted the arm J enters between the hanger L and spring O, ascending until it strikes and unloosens the notched and pivoted catch P from the spring. The latter then clamps the arm J, and holds it in a horizontal position until the spring is again moved out after coupling, thus allowing the oars to separate without hindrance, and to be ready for recoupling.

When the cars are come together the head of the rod (being horizontal) slips into the mouth of the opposing draw-head, and the arm J, being released by the concussion, drops, and the weight of the ball turns the rod onefourth of a revolution, or so that the heads F are vertical instead of horizontal, and engage with the shoulders t', as seen in Fig. 2.

The chain passes over the pulley Q, which is attached to the edge of the platform.

The arm is held up by the friction produced by the spring; but when the ball is raised, and the coupling-rod is set for coupling, the pressure of the spring on the arm Jis reduced by the catch P, which holds the spring out from the hanger, so that a slight concussion releases it, and allows the ball to drop and turn the coupling-rod.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentl The combination of the hanger L, spring O, and catch P, to enable the rod to be uncoupled and held ready for leaving or entering a drawhead, as set forth.

JOHN WAY. ALVAN S. HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

J Aeon CANTINE, J oHN G. CHILDS. 

